Detachable book rack for folding chairs



D. w. AMBURN 2,979,120

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wa z/vra/f: 2mm; 14/. Qua /6v By a? $6 1 A ril 11, 1961 DETACHABLE BOOK RACK FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Filed Oct. 25, 1956 A ril 11, 1961 D. w. AMBURN DETACHABLE BOOK RACK FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1956 United States Patent DETACHABLE BOOK RACK FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Duane W. Amhurn, Buies Creek, N.(',. (1974 Mims, Fort Worth, Tex.)

Filed Oct. 25, 1956, Ser. No. 618,226

1 Claim. (Cl. 155188) This invention relates to a detachable book rack for folding chairs.

More particularly the invention pertains to a detachable holder for hymn books, envelopes, pencils and communion glasses and adapted for easy attachment to and detachment from folding chairs of conventional design, said holder being formed of sheet-metal or sheet-plastic and being of such size and shape as not to interfere with the storage of said chairs when folded.

This disclosure consists of species under the generic invention disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application S.N. 446,491, filed July 29, 1954, and now abandoned, of which this is a continuation-in-part.

Pews and non-folding chairs used in churches, or similar meeting places, have long been provided with convenient receptacles on their backs for the reception of hymn books, envelopes, etc. However, where it has been necessary to employ folding chairs, the convenience aiforded by such receptacles has been generally lacking, with the resultant inconvenience to the congregation, damage to the hymn books, and loss and wastage of pencils, envelopes etc.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide an easily attachable and detachable holder for hymn books and other accessories, which holder is easily attachable and detachable from folding chairs of conventional design.

It is another object of the invention to provide a boo holder of this type which is of simple, rugged, economical, yet highly elfective design.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a book holder of the herein described type which is extremely versatile and can with no (or with minimum) adjustment or design alteration be adapted for attachment to chairs of widely varying designs.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the left bolton clamp of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the permanently attached right clamp of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a book rack supported in part by a yoke-type legstraddling support.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the showing of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of yet another species of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of Fig. 8 employing a semicircular leg-embracing yoke.

With reference now to Fig. l of the drawing, the numeral 11 generally designates the book rack which is herein shown as being made of sheet metal, but which obviously can be made of other suitable materials, such as sheet plastic, molded plastic, etc. Rack 11 comprises the vertically disposed basic panel 13 the upper edge of which is rolled at 15 or is otherwise treated or processed to eliminate a dangerously sharp or unattractive upper edge. Panel 13 is rearwardly bent at its ends 17 and 18 about radii selected to give the proper width to the bookreceiving pocket formedbetween the panel 15 and the rear panel 19. The lateral edges of panel 19 are connected to the inwardly directed ends of the reverse-bent front panel 13 by any suitable means or method, such as crimped seams, welded connections, etc. A bottom panel 21 completes the book-receiving pocket. Panel 21 may be attached to the panels 13 and 19 by any suitable means, for example by the rivets 23 passing thru alined apertures in the panel-s 13, and 19 and in down-turned flanges 21a.

Rear panel 19 preferably extends upwardly above the top of the book-receiving pocket and is provided with a horizontally disposed rearwardly extending flange 19a designedto closely underlie the lower surface of the seat S of the folding chair C. The rear edge of the flange 19a is downwardly angled at 19b to form a channel 19c in co-operation with the angle-bar 25. The channel formed by the parts 19c and 25 fits downwardly over the crossbracing rod R of the chair C. The lower rear edge of the rack 11 retainingly rests against the rear edge of the legs L of the folding chair. When the chair is in the use position of Fig. l, the seat S prevents the book rack from being unhooked from the cross-bracing rod R. But when the chair is folded the seat S is raised away from its supporting rod R thus making it easy to hook the lip 1% over the cross rod R for assembling the rack with the folded chair for storage and subsequent use.

The curved ends of the pocket or rack 11 are preferably bridged adjacent their upper edges by the centrally apertured webs.27 supported therein by any suitable means, such as tabs 27 welded to the extensions 17 and 18 of the front panel 13. The central apertures in the webs 27 provide holders for the communion glasses G. The book rack 11 is also desirably provided with a small pocket 29 attached centrally to its front face. Pocket 29 is formed of a piece of sheet metal 31 having rearwardly bent end flanges 31a and a rearwardly turned bottom flange (not shown). Flanges 31a have integrally formed thereon rearwardly extending tongues 31b which enter vertical slots .33 in the panel 13 and are bent (as shown) to retain the pocket 29 in place. Pocket 29 is also desirably pro vided with a vertically disposed partition 35 for dividing the pocket into separate compartments for receiving the envelopes E and a pencil P, as shown.

The book rack of Figs. 2-4 is generally similar to that of Fig. 1, and comprises the book-receiving pocket portion generally designated 41 and the small envelopeand pencil-receiving pocket generally designated 43. Rack 41-43 differs from the previously described rack in having a downwardly opening channel member horizontally attached to its rear panel adjacent the bottom portion. thereof, for engaging the horizontally disposed rung 47 of the chair 48. The upper portion of the book rack 41-43 is fastened to the rear legs 49 of the chair 48 by a pair of C-shaped leg-embracing straps or clamps 50 and 51 which only partially surround the forward faces of the legs 49. This form of book rack is primarily designed for use with chairs having interfering structures (such as the back-stop run 53 for the seat of the chair 48) in such position relative to the legs 49 as would interfere with a fully leg-surrounding clamp or support. The left one 51 of the leg-embracing clamps is made of two parts 51a and 5111. Part 51b is welded or otherwise fastened to the book rack 41--43 and is herein shown as being n'gidly attachable-to the leg-embracing clamp portion 51a by the bolt 55.

In the species of Fig. the rear walls 61 of the book rack (generally designated 62) has an upwardly disposed extension 63. The ends of the extension 63 are laterally extended at 64 and 65 to form tongues which engage in the U'channels 66 of the rear channel-bar legs 67 of the chair generally designated 68. The upper edge of the extension 63 is rearwardly and horizontally bent at 69 to add strength to and to improve the appearance of the structure. The bottom of the book rack 62 is supported on and fastened to the chair 68 by the use of one or more inverted channel-members 70 welded to the rear face of the book rack and engageable over the cross-brace 68a of the chair.

In the modification of Fig. 6, the book rack 71 has attached to its rear panel adjacent the bottom thereof an circular sockets which embracingly engage over the inner or facing surfaces of the legs 77 of the chair. The notches 76 can be engaged over and around the legs 77 by laterally tilting the book rack 71 during assemblage and before the channel of bar 72 is engaged over the rung 73 to Y complete the assemblage.

In the species of Fig. 7 the book rack 78 is supported by an inverted channel bar 79 engaging over the chair rung 80 of the chair 81, as in the previously described species.

The upper portion of the book rack 71 is fastened to the legs 82 of the chair 81 by a pair of angle brackets 83 having vertically disposed webs welded to the upper rear face of book rack 71. Angle brackets 83 (only one being shown) have horizontally disposed webs 86 provided with semi-circular notches 87 formed therein for embracing the legs 82 of the chair 81. The book rack is assembled with the chair 81 by tilting the device from side to side before the angle bar 79 is engaged over the rung 80, as heretofore described.

In Fig. 8 the book rack 88 is supported by an angle bracket 89 welded to the rear face of the book rack and engageable over the rung 90 of the chair 91. The bot tom of the book rack is prevented from swinging about the support by a strap 92 welded across the rear face of the bottom portion of the book rack and having rearwardly bent curved extension 92a partially embracing the legs 91a of the chair.

In the species of Fig. 9, the book rack 93 is supported by an angle bar 94 engaging over the rung 95 of the chair 96 in previously described manner. In place of the strap 92 of the species of Fig. 8, the present species employs a pair of straps 97 (only one being shown) welded or otherwise attached to the bottom of the book rack 93 and extending laterally and somewhat rearwardly in a horizontal plane therefrom. The outer ends of the plate 97 are provided with semicircular notches 98 which engage over the legs 99 of the chair 96 to firmly attach the book rack thereto. As in the above-described species, the notches 98 are engaged over the leg 99 by a lateral tilting of the book rack prior to engagement of the angle bar 94 over the rung 95.

While I have disclosed certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes can be made in the size, shape, composition and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the subjoined' claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A demountable book rack for folding chairs having parallel rear legs and a horizontal cross-bracing rod therebetween, said book rack being primarily comprised of a single sheet of material and having a vertical base panel and a front panel spaced therefrom, said panels being connected along corresponding edges thereof and open at the top to provide a book receiving opening, spacer members between said panels and arranged to position a book therein, a hook on said book rack located to engage said cross-brace of said chair, and laterally extending straps on the sides of said book rack, the outer ends of said straps having recesses therein shaped to engage separately said [legs of said chair.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,145 Michelson Nov. 5, 1895 668,727 Chapman Feb. 26, 1901 2,023,173 Heiner Dec. 3, 1935 2,706,516 Nordrnark Apr. 19, 1955 2,706,517 Dexter et al Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,954 .Italy Mar. 31, 1936 446,128 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1936 

